Sunday, December 9, 2018

We wanted to share some tips for buying “eye safe” toys as you make your list for this holiday season. Certainly, the kids and the toy manufacturers know what is popular, but often they are unaware of potential safety issues-especially eye safety issues. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, there are typically more than 250,000 toy-related injuries treated in U.S. emergency rooms in annually with more than 75% affecting children under 15 years of age. A serious eye injury from a toy can ruin a family's holiday and, more seriously leave a child with permanent vision loss.

Top Five Tips for Choosing Eye Safe Toys

1. Avoid purchasing toys with sharp, protruding or projectile parts.

2. Make sure children have appropriate supervision when playing with potentially hazardous toys or games that could cause injury.

Sunday, December 2, 2018

“If you told me at age 73 I’d not be wearing
glasses I would think you were crazy! Dr. Buck had recommended that when I had
cataract surgery to have the ReSTOR® lens put in.This lens allows me to see far and I can also
see my computer.Before I had this lens
implant I had three different types of glasses.Computer glasses, reading glasses and distance glasses-I could never get
used to a bifocal, I hated the lines! Now I rarely use reading glasses.Usually when I play Bridge or sew I will put
on some reading glasses but for the most part I don’t use them.All of my friends in my women’s sorority can’t
believe how well I am doing.I have told
everyone I know to come see Dr. Buck.His front office ladies and the rest of the staff are so helpful and
kind.I definitely made the right
decision!”

Sunday, November 25, 2018

“LASIK was something I had been talking about
for many years.I never went through
with it due to my busy work schedule.My
wife and I had been relocated to Northwest Indiana and now that I am in a
management position my schedule has lightened up and is more predictable, I
decided it was time to look into Lasik.One of my new co-workers had lasik done with Dr. Buck and recommended
him.I have never been able to wear
contacts.I could never get them
in.I worried that I wouldn’t be a
candidate because of that. I later found out that has no bearing on being a
Lasik candidate.I was so appreciative
of the patient education that Dr. Buck goes through with his patients.I had no fear after talking with him and his
staff.I had Lasik done about 3 months
ago and can’t believe I waited so long.I have to wear reading glasses still but that is no big deal at
all.I am not wearing distance glasses
and I am thrilled!”

Sunday, November 18, 2018

Most people would rather lose a limb than lose their eyesight, according
to the results of a nationwide poll. Indeed, if given a choice, most
people would prefer to lose their hearing, their memory, or their ability to
speak rather than losing their vision, according to the survey results
published in the journalJAMA
Ophthalmology.

The survey polled 2,044
Americans from across all ethnic, racial, and economic demographics. Nearly 88%
of respondents viewed eye health as critical to overall health, and 47%
considered vision loss to be the worst possible health condition that could happen
them, even worse than Alzheimer’s disease, cancer, or AIDS/HIV. Among the
possible consequences of vision loss, respondents ranked quality of life as the
greatest concern, followed by loss of independence.

While 81.5% of Americans
reported having an eye examination, many were not well aware of the diseases
and conditions that lead to vision loss. Nearly two-thirds of respondents
reported awareness of cataracts (65.8%) or glaucoma (63.4%), but only half were
aware of macular degeneration, and 37.3% were aware of diabetic retinopathy. As
many as 25% of all respondents weren’t aware of any eye conditions that could
cause loss of vision.

Sunday, November 11, 2018

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is one of the leading causes of
preventable blindness globally. Yet, many diabetic patients still do not
schedule regular diabetic eye exams as requested by their physicians. Referral
to an eye doctor for early diagnosis and treatment is the key to preventing
vision loss in diabetics. Performing retinal screening examinations on all
diabetic patients is an unmet need, and leads to many undiagnosed and untreated
cases of DR. Recently researcher-clinicians
reported their work
to develop an artificial intelligence automated algorithm for retinal
photographs that would help with referral from primary care physicians to
ophthalmologists of eyes with DR for further evaluation and treatment. The
study suggests that this method of screening would aid in reducing the rate of
vision loss, enabling timely and accurate diagnoses.

Sunday, November 4, 2018

Diabetic
retinopathy is best treated and managed with early detection and diagnosis.
This can be especially important for children with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus.
The earlier we can detect and diagnose the diabetic eye problems, the better we
can prepare to help prevent vision loss. Most often diabetic retinopathy is
diagnosed during a dilated exam of the retina during an eye exam. However, we
also have a very sensitive non-invasive “kid friendly” imaging system in our
office called Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) that can help us detect the
very earliest types of changes from diabetes-even before they might be visible
during a dilated retinal exam.

According to a clinical study reported in the
journal Ophthalmic
Surgery, Laser and Imaging Retina Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus causes and degenerative
effect on certain nerve cells in the retina even before the breakdown of blood
vessels occurs with diabetic retinopathy. From this research, it is thought
that OCT may be more useful than just a dilated retinal exam in kids with Type 1 Diabetes
Mellitus.

If you or someone you know has a child or
young adult with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus, please make sure they are having
regular eye exams but also that we might perform an OCT as part of their care.
If you have questions or wish to schedule an appointment please call Northwest Indiana Eye
& Laser Center at 219-464-8223, or visit Northwest Indiana Eye & Laser
Center, Google+ or facebook.com/nwindianaeyeandlaser.

Sunday, October 28, 2018

Chronic Open Angle Glaucoma, which is the
most common type of glaucoma, has no cure. Glaucoma is lifelong eye disease
that will require you to be treated throughout your life in some manner. This
may require using one or more eye drops on a daily or even more frequent basis,
by having laser treatments or even surgery-or some combination of treatments,
in order to maintain stability and prevent vision loss. in some manner. A
recent study that might be of interest to those stable glaucoma patients who in
fact use one or more eye drops each day was published in the journal Acta Ophthalmologicademonstrated that a form of glaucoma laser treatment called Selective
Laser Trabeculoplasty was able to complete replace the need for eyedrops in 77%
of stable glaucoma patients and still maintain excellent control of intraocular
pressure! In most
other patients, the laser treatment was able to reduce the number of different
eye drops used or the number of times a single eye drop needed to be used to maintain
stable eye pressure. This is very helpful for most glaucoma patients as it
reduces medication side effects and helps those who might have a tough time
instilling eye drops or remembering to use them at the prescribed time each
day.

If you or someone you know has glaucoma and
uses eye drops each day and wishes to explore the possibility of glaucoma laser
treatment or anyone concerned about their risk of glaucoma and might need to
schedule an eye exam we welcome you to call Northwest Indiana Eye & Laser Center at
219-464-8223, or visit Northwest Indiana Eye & Laser
Center, Google+ or facebook.com/nwindianaeyeandlaser.

Sunday, October 7, 2018

LASIK is safe, effective and convenient type
of laser vision correction for those wanting freedom from the hassle of glasses
and contacts. But sometimes patients think they might just be too old for
LASIK. While the best way to correct both distance vision and the near vision
focusing problem-presbyopia, is with lens
implants for vision correction, a recent study clearly supports that even
at age 65, LASIK is still safe and effective. Reporting in the journal International
Ophthalmologyeye surgeons found that even though elder patients
may present greater LASIK restrictions due to lens cataract and other eye
age-related changes, patients 65 years of age and older that were good
candidates LASIK achieved safe, predictable and effective vision and eye health
results.

If you or someone you know is thinking about
the freedom seeing clearly without glasses or contact lenses and is concerned
about whether their age might be a problem, please schedule an appointment so
we can help find out if you might be a candidate for LASIK or lens implants for
vision correction. Please call Northwest Indiana Eye & Laser Center at 219-464-8223,
or visit Northwest Indiana Eye & Laser
Center, Google+ or facebook.com/nwindianaeyeandlaser.

Monday, October 1, 2018

“Now
that I am retired I have a lot of free time to do my hobbies.Hunting and shooting is one of my favorite
things to do.So when I noticed things
weren’t as clear as they used to be I made an appointment with Dr. Buck.He said that I had a cataract in my right eye
and the left eye was forming but not ready to come out.The surgery was scheduled for the following
month.I couldn’t believe how quickly
the procedure was and recovery was no big deal.I was so happy to have clear vision again and surprised how much it
helped my shooting.”

Sunday, September 23, 2018

Energy drinks that contain very large
quantities of stimulants such as caffeine, sugar and others are often consumed
by both adults and even teenagers looking for that extra energy boost. There
have been concerns about and reports of headaches, blood pressure spikes,
neurological and heart problems with the consumption of these drinks. Now we
have seen that energy drinks may also cause retinal hemorrhages and vision loss
and want to caution patients who consume them to be aware of the potential
risks. A recent report
cites the case of a 48 year old gentleman who had high blood pressure and
consumed several cans of energy drinks. A short time later he presented in the
emergency room with very high blood pressure, a very fast heart rate and a
sudden loss of vision. He was examined and found to have hemorrhages within his
retina that lead to his sudden vision loss. For some people consuming energy
drinks might be acceptable and even useful but for others the risks may not be
worthwhile.

Monday, September 17, 2018

“As a nurse it can be difficult to have
certain procedures done knowing what I know about the medical field. I couldn’t
be happier with my experience with Dr. Buck and his staff.I work long hours and was ready to not wear
glasses and contacts anymore.I was hoping
to get it done before the summer so I could enjoy swimming and boating without
the burden of glasses.SO right before
summer I scheduled surgery, had it done and was back to work the next day.I only had to take off one day of work! I am
completely thrilled and would do it again if I had to!”

Monday, September 3, 2018

“I am an artist and have been oil painting
for many years. Over the past few years
I have noticed that things were getting cloudy.
I came in to see Dr. Buck for an eye exam and it was time to remove the
cataracts. I go to Florida every year in
the winter so I am very thankful that Dr. Buck was able to get me on his
schedule before I left. The procedure
seemed to go very smoothly and I didn’t even remember a thing! Now that my
vision has improved I am hoping my art will as well!”

Tuesday, August 28, 2018

Cataracts
seem to be a more common eye health and vision problem that we hear about
today. In part, this is because as patients age you are no longer willing to
accept the limitations that decreased vision from cataracts can impose on your
day to day activities. This, combined with ability to restore vision loss from
cataracts in a safe, effective and predictable manner with cataract surgery and
lens implants for vision correction motivates more patients, at early ages, to
seek solutions to help us maintain an active, engaged and productive lifestyle.

About Cataracts

Approximately
25 million Americans have cataracts, which cause cloudy, blurry or dim
vision and often develop with advancing age. As everyone grows older, the
lenses of their eyes thicken and become cloudier. Eventually, they may find it
more difficult to read street signs. Colors may seem dull. These symptoms may
signal cataracts, which affect about 70 percent of people by age 75.
Fortunately, cataracts can be corrected with surgery. Ophthalmologists who are
cataract surgeons perform around three million cataract surgeries each year to
restore vision to those patients. Here are some facts people should know about
cataracts.

Age isn’t the only risk factor for
cataracts. Though
most everyone will develop cataracts with age, recent studies show that lifestyle and behavior can influence
when and how severely you develop cataracts. Diabetes, extensive
exposure to sunlight, smoking, obesity, high blood pressure and certain
ethnicities have all been linked to increased risk of cataracts. Eye
injuries, prior eye surgery and long-term use of steroid medication,
perhaps for asthma, allergies or breathing problems or arthritis- can also
result in cataracts. If you have any of these and are experiencing blurry
or cloudy vision, difficulty with night vision especially glare or haloes,
you should schedule an eye exam and
alert your eye doctor.

Cataracts cannot be prevented, but
you can lower your risk. Wearing UV-blocking sunglasses and
brimmed hats when outside can help. Several studies suggest that eating
more vitamin C-rich foods may delay how fast cataracts form. Also, avoid
smoking cigarettes, which have been shown to increase the risk of cataract
development.

Surgery may help improve more than
just your vision. During the procedure, the natural clouded
lens is replaced with an artificial lens called an intraocular lens,
or IOL, which should improve your vision significantly. Patients have a
variety of lenses to choose from, each with different benefits. Lens implants today can correct a full
range of vision and help you see clearly at far, arm’s length and near-without
being dependent on eyeglasses! While this is great for many patients,
studies have shown that cataract surgery can improve quality of life and
reduce the risk of falling which is a potentially serious risk and problem
for seniors. If you think a cataract is possibly interfering with your
ability to see well you should
schedule an eye exam and alert your eye doctor.

Sunday, August 19, 2018

If you
wear soft contact lenses and been thinking about LASIK you know the benefit of
not having to wear eyeglasses for seeing clearly at distance. But, you may
wonder how well LASIK will correct your vision. Another common question is how
long you may have to go without wearing your contacts before you can have
LASIK, and will that change your results.A recent

Study
reported in the journal of the British Contact Lens Association, Contact
Lenses & Anterior Eye compared
the vision results of soft contact lens wearers with both LASIK and PRK among
groups of people who had stopped wearing their soft contacts for 2 weeks before
their laser vision correction, others 24 hours before laser vision correction
and those who didn’t wear contact lenses at all prior to laser vision
correction.

Results of Laser Vision Correction Compared
to Soft Contact Lenses

The patients who had stopped wearing their
contacts 2 weeks before having laser eye surgery to correct nearsightedness,
vision without glasses was significantly better at one month, and at six months
after having laser vision correction was even better than those who had never
worn contacts, but only glasses!

Monday, August 13, 2018

With
back-to-school time around the corner, parents will be scrambling to buy new
school supplies and clothes. As they tick off their long list of school to-dos,
we are reminding moms and dads not to neglect one of the most important
learning tools: their children’s eyes. Good vision and overall eye health are
vital to learning. Because children are still growing, being vigilant about eye
health is important.

Tips for Kids’ Healthy Eyes
& Vision

Get
Regular Childhood Vision Screenings - Children’s eyes change rapidly, making
regular vision screenings a key step in detecting and correcting eye
problems early. In addition to screenings for infants, the American
Academy of Ophthalmology recommends further vision screening for children when
they are:

>Pre-School age, between
age 3 and 3 and a half

>Entering School

>Experiencing a Possible
Vision Problem

Know
and Share Your Family Eye Health History - Everyone should find out whether eye
conditions or diseases run in their family. Parents should share that
information with the person performing the screening or eye exam when possible.
Examples of common eye conditions include nearsightedness, crossed eye, known as strabismus, and lazy eye, known as amblyopia. If these are not treated in
childhood, they can cause permanent vision loss in one eye.

Watch
for Signals of Eye Problems - Parents should be alert to symptoms that
could indicate an eye or vision problem, such as complaints of eyestrain,
headaches and squinting when reading or performing other common activities. Other
symptoms to look for include a white or grayish-white coloring in the pupil,
one eye that turns in or out, or eyes that do not track in sync together.

Wear
Protective Eyewear When Playing Sports - Eye injuries while playing sports can cause
serious damage, whether by getting smacked with an elbow during basketball or
hit with a hockey stick. If your child plays racket sports, hockey, field
hockey, baseball or basketball, consider having them wear goggles or
other certified protective eyewear.

Monday, August 6, 2018

Vision problems and visual impairment in
preschool children can lead to learning and development problems that impacts
long term academic and even social success. Researchers reporting in the
journal JAMA Ophthalmologystudied
the prevalence, demographic and geographic variations of visual impairment in
kids and projected what might lie ahead.

In
2015, more than 174 000 children aged 3 to 5 years in the United States were
visually impaired. Almost 121 000 of these cases (69%) arose from simple
uncorrected refractive error, and 43 000 (25%) from bilateral amblyopia. The
number of preschool children with visual impairment is projected to increase by
26% in 2060. Hispanic white children will account for the largest number and
proportion of cases, followed by African American children.

This
study suggests that
the number of preschool children with visual impairment is projected to
increase disproportionally, especially among minority populations. Vision
screening for refractive error and related eye diseases may prevent a high
proportion of preschool children from experiencing unnecessary visual
impairment and associated developmental delays.

Monday, July 30, 2018

A certain retinal vessel disease may be a
warning of an impending stroke! When an artery or vein in the retina becomes
blocked or “occluded” it can be a sign of more serious health issues that need
to be looked-quickly! A central retinal artery occlusion (CRAO) is a
disease of the eye where the flow of blood through the central retinal
artery is blocked. Patients suffering from a central artery occlusion
experience a sudden, severe, painless loss of vision in one eye. While there
can be several different causes of the blockage, most often a central retinal
artery occlusion is caused by unhealthy carotid arteries which supply the head
and neck with oxygen. Unhealthy carotid arteries are those that have
atherosclerosis, are narrowed and filled with a waxy fatty substance that forms
plaques that can break off and end up in the retinal circulation. Retinal artery occlusion is a significant
warning of a stroke risk and indeed more than 15% of the patients having a
central retinal artery occlusion experience a stroke within 4 years after the
artery blockage.

A retinal artery occlusion is a medical emergency as the loss of vision
is fast an irreversible.If you or
someone you know experiences a quick painless severe loss of vision in one eye,
please call us immediately and relay your symptoms to the person taking your
phone and request an immediate appointment. Please call Northwest Indiana Eye &
Laser Center at 219-464-8223, or visit Northwest Indiana Eye & Laser
Center, Google+ or facebook.com/nwindianaeyeandlaser.

Sunday, July 22, 2018

With
summer in full swing, the days are longer, the sun hotter, and the threat from
the sun’s damaging ultraviolet rays, greater. Excess sun exposure can put you
at risk of serious short-term and long-term eye problems. This is true for
young and old, year-round.
Prevention is simple. Wear sunglasses that block ultraviolet radiation.

Keeping Your Eyes Safe from
the Sun

When
shopping for sunglasses always ask the optician, or look for a tag or label
that says 100% protection against both UVA and UVB or 100% protection against
UV 400. UV protection is the essential piece you need to look for in a pair of
sunglasses. Darkness and color do not
indicate the strength of UV protection, and neither does the price tag!
There is no doubt about the consequences of not protecting your eyes from the
sun’s harmful rays. If your eyes are exposed to strong sunlight for too long
without proper protection, UV rays can burn
the cornea-called photokeratitis- and cause temporary blindness in a
matter of hours. Long-term sun exposure is linked to more serious eye
disease, such as cataracts, certain types eyelid cancer and growths on or near the eye. A lifetime of exposure also
likely increases progression of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a condition that can
cause blindness. In addition to wearing UV protecting sunglasses, also
consider wearing a hat with broad brim. They have been shown to significantly
cut exposure to harmful rays. Also, don’t forget the sunscreen!

Saturday, July 7, 2018

Symptoms of dry eyes and dry eye disease as well as ocular fatigue are known problems that can result from the excessive use of video display terminals. Kids today spend an awful lot of time texting on smartphones, playing games on smartphones and generally just engaged with various apps on smartphones. Researchers were interested in learning more about any increased risk and progression of pediatric dry eye disease that might be associated with smartphone use. Not unexpected was the conclusion that increased VDT use such as smartphones or computers in children was found to be associated with the occurrence of ocular surface symptoms of dryness and fatigue. Also somewhat expected was the clinical finding that the longer the kids used the smartphones the greater the symptoms and disturbance of the eyes’ surface. The authors then suggested being aware of excessive smartphone use in kids and educating them as to reducing their use of smartphones if they become troubled by eye fatigue or dryness symptoms.

If you have kids that are heavy users of smartphones or iPads or tablets of any type and they complain about dry eyes, grittiness, sandiness or have red burning eyes and even eye fatigue, please be aware that the VDT may be having a negative impact on the child and schedule an appointment so that we be sure there are no other eye problems. Please call Northwest Indiana Eye & Laser Center at 219-464-8223, or visit Northwest Indiana Eye & Laser Center, Google+ or facebook.com/nwindianaeyeandlaser.

Sunday, July 1, 2018

What
could pregnancy, labor and your eye pressure have to do with one another?For the clear majority of “new moms to be”
the thought of their upcoming labor can cause them to voice concerns about
their physical as well as emotional wellbeing. Typically, your obstetrician
will be a sound source of information about what to expect in terms of pain,
discomfort and how they will help you manage the physical discomfort and stress
of labor. From time to time we have a patient who is pregnant and who has a family
history of glaucoma or is perhaps “ocular hypertensive,” meaning that they have
had a high intraocular pressure (IOP) measurement as part of their annual
routine eye exam who shares their concern about the physical stress of labor
and if there is any chance of eye and optic nerve damage during delivery.
Fortunately, recent data from a study we reviewed in the Journal of Glaucoma showed us that eye
pressure and blood flow into the optic nerve during the various stages of
vaginal labor are not changed and there is no increased risk to those who have
a family history of glaucoma or high eye pressure. Mom’s to be can put this fear
to rest!

If
you are pregnant and have a family history of glaucoma or have been told that
you at risk for glaucoma due to a high eye pressure, please be reassured that
labor and delivery will not expose you to greater risk. It is important however
to continue your regular eye exams-even during pregnancy-and especially if you
experience any changes in your vision or general eye health! Please call Northwest Indiana Eye
& Laser Center at 219-464-8223, or visit Northwest Indiana Eye & Laser
Center, Google+ or facebook.com/nwindianaeyeandlaser.

Sunday, June 24, 2018

No
Fireworks Are Safe, Even Innocent Sparkler Causes Thousands of Eye Injuries

We want everyone to have a safe and enjoyable
Fourth of July season, but please be aware of the facts about fireworks.
Fireworks injuries cause approximately 10,000 visits to the emergency
department each year, most of them involve children who suffer thousands of eye
injuries. Although the most disabling injuries occur with illegal firecrackers,
most injuries are caused by legal fireworks parents buy for their children,
such as sparklers, firecrackers, bottle rockets, and Roman candles. Every year
thousands of patients need treatments who suffer a range of fireworks-related
injuries, from cuts and bruises to damaged corneas and ruptured eyeballs. To
help reduce the number of potentially blinding fireworks accidents this
holiday, the American Academy of Ophthalmology is working to debunk common
myths about fireworks injuries.

Here
are five fireworks myths, debunked:

Sparklers
are safe for young children. Sparklers burn at 1800 degrees, hot enough to
melt some metals. Sparklers were responsible for most of the injuries to
children age 5 and younger.

It’s
safer to view fireworks than it is to light or throw them. Bystanders are
injured by fireworks as often as the operators.

Consumer fireworks are safe. Sparklers
and firecrackers each account for more than 1,400 injuries to the eyes.

It’s
safe to pick up a firework after it has been lit. Even though it looks
like a dud, it may not act like one.

It’s
not the Fourth of July without consumer fireworks. The
Fourth can be complete without using consumer fireworks. The
safest way to view fireworks is to watch a professional show.

If
you experience a fireworks injury, we urge you to minimize the damage to the
eye:

Seek
medical attention immediately.

Do
not rub the eye. Rubbing may make the injury worse.

Do
not attempt to rinse the eye.

Do
not apply pressure to the eye.

Do
not remove objects from the eye,

Do
not apply ointments or take pain medications before seeking medical help.

Northwest Indiana Eye & Laser Center

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Scott Buck, M.D.

Comprehensive Ophthalmologist, LASIK & Cataract Surgeon Scott Buck, M.D. is the Founder of Northwest Indiana Eye & Laser Center, P.C. Dr. Buck earned his Medical Degree at Indiana University School of Medicine followed by a Residency in Ophthalmology at The Ohio State University Medical Center in Columbus, Ohio. Dr. Buck provides examination, consultation and treatment for eye diseases as well as Laser Eye Surgery such as LASIK Eye Surgery for the correction of nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism. In addition, Dr. Buck provides implants (IOL) for the correction of astigmatism and near vision after Cataract Surgery. Further, he has a special interest in the diagnosis and treatment of ocular surface problems such as dry eye and dry eye syndrome and takes personal pride in providing patients with help for dry eyes. In addition, Dr. Buck and his staff are committed to helping patients look their best with both non-surgical aesthetic treatments such as BOTOX® Cosmetic and gel fillers such as Restylane® and Perlane, as well as cosmetic eyelid surgery such as Blepharoplasty to help with droopy, puffy or saggy eyelids.